Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
1145 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
|
Our leases are up soon (BMW 3 series wagon and ML350). We have two young boys (3 months and 2 years). We are having a hard time deciding what vehicles to go with. I know I want a bigger car since the 3series was tough getting the kids in and out, and my husband needs a car that is fairly big as well that I can take if he needs my car for work when he has to haul people and equipment. We really don't want a minivan, but could probably be talked into one. But when I price them out with all the features we want there in the 40K + department. Here's options we think we might need in at least one of the cars: 3rd row for when we bring a grandparent along sliding doors? (we live in san francisco, tight parking) captains chairs - to make access to 3rd row easier, since we will have carseats hybrid would be nice, but not a must I have been all over the map with what to get. Was looking at the mercedes R class, but read that the doors are really long, thus tough to load kids in when parked next to other cars. Started looking at the toyota highlander hybrid, but don't know much about it. Love the look of the range rover sport, but know they're unreliable and no 3rd row. But both cars wouldn't need a third row. We had a Saturn Outlook for a few months but returned it under the lemon law because the gas gauge didn't work. We have been looking at them again, but hesitant to go with GM because of their financial issues. Any suggestions? |
|
|
Replying to: meadows6 (Apr 05, 2009 10:59 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: meadows6 (Apr 05, 2009 10:59 pm) In terms of the 3-series and getting the kids in and out, I always tell folks NOT to buy a vehicle based on your little kids. Don't forget, they won't be little for long and they'll be climbing in and out themselves. My G35 is plenty roomy now that my 3-year-old climbs in by himself and all I have to do is buckle him in. |
|
|
Replying to: qbrozen (Apr 06, 2009 10:07 am) I distinctly remember in late 99 trying out several cars and running the two Jennifer test (Jennifer being my wife and the tallest person in the family) . At the time we had two kids aged 10 and 7. The test involved having Jen get in the driver's seat and make herself as comfy as can be as if she were driving. once she got that all set she sat in teh seat directly behind it to see how that felt. The theory was that the kids would end up about her size. OK, it's now almost 10 years down the road. The Subaru Legacy wagon we really liked failed the test and we bought an Accord sedan (there was a Passat in the running as well and it passed the test but I got cold feet on VW reliability). So here all this time later we still have the Accord. Neither of the kids ever got as tall as Jen and at 20 and 16 aren't likely to. now we do have two seven year olds but I'll take my chances there. |
|
|
Replying to: qbrozen (Apr 06, 2009 10:07 am) The handling will be closer to the Benz and BMW the original poster was used to in his current cars, but the interior is definitely not at Euro-luxury levels. Still, it's a really nice package that is pretty big inside and quite small outside - only about 3 inches longer than the BMW 3-series but two inches narrower - and has a lot more space and a third row. And still great handling.
|
|
|
Replying to: tlong (Apr 06, 2009 3:03 pm) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: qbrozen (Apr 06, 2009 10:07 am) Doesn't the government now require kids to be in car seats until they are like 8?
|
|
|
Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 07, 2009 4:47 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: qbrozen (Apr 07, 2009 6:58 am) |
|
|
Replying to: meadows6 (Apr 05, 2009 10:59 pm) |
|
You are here:
Forums
Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
